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Hi, I’m Lisa

When I was five, I slipped a poem under my father’s office door. It concerned dolls, apes and Scotch tape (it was a rhyming poem,) and my writing career was launched! Since then, I’ve written for newspapers and magazines (like the New York Times Magazine.) My award-winning memoir, Broken: A Love Story, chronicled the story of my friendship with Northern Arapahoe horse trainer and traditional healer Stanford Addison.

My students tell me my writing class is better than therapy. Women who haven’t lifted a pen in decades but are simply trying to make sense of a tricky passage in their lives rub shoulders with award-winning authors. Everyone has a blast because instead of lecturing them or leaving them alone with an empty page, I chunk down great scenes from literature to guide their writing. And even though my students have different levels of experience, we’ve all been human long enough to know just what a glorious mess this life is. That glorious mess is the source of all good writing. It’s just a matter of jumping in. Join us!

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LET WRITING BE EASY

CLASSES FOR WRITERS OF ALL LEVELS

Dip Your Toe In

New to my work? Take my style of teaching for a two-hour test drive…

For the price of a latte you can experience one of my classes live over Zoom. No preparation necessary, it’ll all happen in class!

Jump In

These classes are offered in a single day. Convenient AND powerful.

Deep Dive

Build literary community with a weekly writing practice. If you’re not sure, check out my DIP YOUR TOE IN, low-commitment offering first!)

Get the first tracks of your novel, memoir or series of vignettes written.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MY CLASSES

My Classes are for You if...

You’re willing to read a few pages of source material prior to each class.

You’re ready to engage with like-minded writers, and willing to listen with kindness to others’ reading and provide comments at the level of critique they ask for.

You're comfortable with making mistakes, knowing the times you miss the bus completely may lead to a creative breakthrough.

JOURNEY INTO AWE

May 2024 Writing Retreat

A three-day women's retreat in May that uses nature practices and writing exercises to heal your soul and open your heart to wonder and possibility.

What They’re Saying

I didn’t consider myself a writer until I attended Lisa’s writing course. Her capacity to create a safe environment and unleash the writer in each of us is astonishing. Lisa’s clear instruction, humor, presence and heartfulness are a true gift to anyone that attends her courses. I feel greatly enriched by the entire experience. Thank you!

Renée RosarioPsychotherapist and Teacher, 2016 student

Lisa is a great teacher, with sincere enthusiasm for whatever anyone manages to write in class, yet she’s honest. She gives great writing advice without micro-managing what each person writes. She set a great tone for the class by making each person feel welcome and valued…. Her well-planned classes, writing advice, and enthusiasm got me writing creatively each week.

IHW

Thank God for her class! She taught me that all words are not created equal, but arranged well, they may comprise a book that someone wants to read. She is a genius.

Bonnie Sue HitchcockAuthor of the award-winning novel, The Smell of Other People's Houses

My favorite thing was Lisa’s willingness to share her own journey… The fact that students felt safe enough to reveal deep truths speaks to her ability to create a supportive and nonjudgmental environment in which to grow as writers and individuals. I also appreciated that she honored each writer’s way of reaching that truth.

CM

Lisa created a very safe, fun, playful, encouraging environment. Her writing prompts were brilliant. This class unlocked my creativity in ways I didn’t expect.. it inspired me to tell stories I didn’t even know I remembered. The class was an escape from my rigid and structured life. Better yet, it’s provided me with reams of material I’m using in my memoir proposal.

Rachel WalkerJournalist

This is not your usual writing class. It is more like a mining expedition with supportive compatriots in search of authentic expression. Lisa’s penetrating insights and encouraging spirit helped me locate a vein of gold I could not tap alone. Gathering around her writing table inspires the perfect alchemy of imagination and craft. Lisa’s classes soar with her two equally strong wings of teaching excellence and writing genius. Eureka!

Bonnie Schwab